Title not just Pye in sky
SCOTT Pye made his Supercars debut in the same round as titleholder Scott McLaughlin at Sandown in 2012.
Seven years on, their results have followed a much different path.
While McLaughlin claimed the Supercars championship last season – and leads this year’s series – Pye has just the one race victory to his name.
As he prepares to line up on the grid for his 200th race start this weekend at Phillip Island, Pye admitted that single race win remained a source of pain and motivation.
But the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver has not given up hope of following his former go-kart rival’s footsteps into the title domain.
“We are competitive people. We all want to win races and we are not happy unless we do,’’ Pye, 29, said.
“There are a number of guys in this pit lane that are pretty special drivers and haven’t won a race in a very long time ... without everything aligning on the day it’s pretty hard to win.
“I believe it is the most competitive championship in the world, so that’s why to reach the 200 milestone is a proud achievement.
“There is a lot more I wish I had of achieved in that first 200. But at the same time I know that I am a more rounded driver now.”
Pye finished a career-best seventh in the Supercars championship in 2018, outscoring his teammate and 2010 champion James Courtney (14th) for the second year in a row.
His season was highlighted by his first race victory at Albert
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Park, in which he broke a 164-race drought, and a Bathurst podium (second) for the second year in a row.
“The last two years here have been really good,’’ the Holden driver said.
“As a driver it’s important to beat your teammate. I’ve been happy with my performance the last couple of years.”